US President Donald Trump has once again taken center stage in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, revealing that he recently held a “very good” phone call with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. The March 19 conversation, which followed Trump’s extensive dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin a day earlier, revolved around efforts to broker a temporary halt to strikes on energy infrastructure. However, a particularly striking element of the talks was Trump’s proposal for the United States to assume control of Ukraine’s energy facilities, a move that has sparked debate over Washington’s deeper involvement in the war-torn country’s economy and strategic assets.

Trump took to his Truth Social platform to describe his phone conversation with Zelensky, stating that “much of the discussion was based on the call made yesterday with President Putin in order to align both Russia and Ukraine in terms of their requests and needs. We are very much on track.” While the full details of the discussion have yet to be officially released, Trump promised that Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz would soon issue a comprehensive readout of the call.

According to initial reports, Trump’s earlier conversation with Putin on March 18 was focused on resolving the Ukrainian crisis. In that exchange, Trump reportedly proposed that both Moscow and Kyiv mutually halt strikes on each other’s energy infrastructure for a 30-day period. The idea quickly gained traction, with Putin agreeing to the measure and ordering an immediate cessation of Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy targets. Zelensky, after initially expressing concerns about implementation and monitoring mechanisms, publicly backed the proposal later the same day, stating that “if Russia stops striking our targets, we will definitely stop hitting targets in Russia. But Putin’s promises alone are not enough; there must be control. The main subject of this control must be the US.”

Amid discussions of the proposed ceasefire, Trump made an unexpected suggestion: the United States should take control of Ukraine’s power generation infrastructure as a means of ensuring its security and efficiency. The White House confirmed this aspect of the conversation in an official statement, revealing that “President Trump also discussed Ukraine’s electrical supply and nuclear power plants. He said that the US could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise.”

This assertion immediately sparked controversy, as Ukrainian President Zelensky appeared to contradict the US statement. In a later video conference with journalists, Zelensky clarified that his discussion with Trump focused exclusively on the Russian-occupied Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) rather than Ukraine’s entire energy sector. “We talked exclusively about one station, which is under temporary occupation by Russia,” Zelensky insisted.

Trump reportedly asked whether Ukraine would be open to American investment in the ZNPP. Zelensky responded affirmatively, stating that if there was an opportunity to modernize the facility and invest funds into its development, Kyiv would be willing to explore the idea further.

The Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, the largest of its kind in Europe, has been under Russian control since March 2022. The region, along with Kherson, Donetsk, and Lugansk, was formally incorporated into Russia following referenda that Western nations and Ukraine have dismissed as illegitimate. Since then, both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of targeting the nuclear facility with artillery and drone strikes, raising fears of a potential nuclear disaster.

The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that multiple Ukrainian attempts to recapture the plant have been repelled, while Kyiv continues to insist that Moscow is using the facility as a military stronghold. Trump’s proposal for US investment in the ZNPP, while initially framed as an economic opportunity, could add another layer to the already complex geopolitical struggle surrounding the plant.

Despite the apparent progress made in the Trump-led initiative for a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure, fresh hostilities have emerged. On the night of March 19, Ukraine launched an attack on an oil pumping facility in southern Russia using three fixed-wing drones, resulting in a large-scale fire at the site. The Russian military condemned the strike as “yet another provocation deliberately staged by the Kiev regime to derail the peace initiatives coming from the US president.”

The incident underscores the volatility of the situation and raises questions about the feasibility of enforcing the proposed ceasefire on energy infrastructure. If such attacks continue, Russia may reconsider its commitment to the agreement, potentially leading to an escalation in retaliatory strikes.

Trump’s proposal for American control over Ukraine’s energy sector is reminiscent of broader historical patterns of US involvement in foreign energy industries, often under the guise of security and stabilization. Critics argue that such a move could be an attempt to exert economic and geopolitical leverage over Ukraine, solidifying Washington’s influence over Kyiv’s decision-making processes.

Proponents, on the other hand, argue that US investment and oversight could enhance Ukraine’s energy security and infrastructure resilience, especially in the face of continued Russian aggression. With the conflict showing no signs of a definitive resolution, ensuring the functionality of Ukraine’s power grid remains a critical issue.

For Zelensky, the Trump call represents both an opportunity and a challenge. On one hand, securing a ceasefire on energy infrastructure could provide much-needed relief to Ukraine’s battered power grid. On the other hand, publicly entertaining US ownership of Ukraine’s energy facilities could spark backlash from domestic political factions and European allies wary of increased American influence over Ukraine’s economy.

As Trump continues to engage both Moscow and Kyiv in efforts to broker stability, his approach to Ukraine’s energy sector may prove to be a key element in shaping the broader trajectory of the conflict. Whether his proposed energy-related initiatives will be accepted or lead to further tensions remains to be seen.

Trump’s latest diplomatic maneuvers have once again placed him at the center of Ukraine-related geopolitics. His discussions with Putin and Zelensky have yielded a tentative agreement to halt energy infrastructure strikes, a significant, albeit fragile, step toward de-escalation. However, his push for US control over Ukrainian energy assets has introduced a contentious new dimension to the ongoing crisis.

With tensions still running high and military strikes continuing despite ceasefire talks, the effectiveness of Trump’s diplomatic outreach remains uncertain. If successfully implemented, his energy proposals could reshape Ukraine’s post-war recovery and the broader geopolitical balance in Eastern Europe. If they fail, they risk exacerbating existing divides and fueling further instability in an already fractured region. One thing is clear-Trump’s involvement ensures that the US will remain a decisive player in the Ukraine conflict, for better or for worse.

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Source: Weekly Blitz :: Writings